231 N. Silver St. Ste 2,
Lake City, CO 81235

Tag: OHV

All-Hazard Fund Reimbursement to be Paid by State

There was an audible sigh of relief prior to the start of Hinsdale County Commissioners’ Wednesday, April 9, meeting with announcement by County Finance Officer Lynn McNitt that long-awaited reimbursement funds are being paid by State of Colorado.As previously reported, the county’s financial reserves were severely depleted as the result of a lag in reimbursement payments from the state based on the county’s All-Hazards Team Program. Under terms of the program, the county retains an administrative fee and is reimbursed for up-front costs, including salaries and related expenses of personnel who are deployed to wildfire emergencies throughout the U.S.Under terms of the sponsorship contract, Hinsdale County retains its administrative percentage — amounting to $2.4-million since the start of the program as of February 2025 — and then is promptly repaid for upfront costs, typically within 60 days.The financial rub, however and consequent depletion of county reserves, began in June last year when reimbursements from the state slowed to a truckle.Commissioners engaged legal counsel and scheduled several executive sessions as they conferred with County Attorney Michael O’Loughlin and private counsel on a strategy to obtain delinquent payment to refill county coffers. County Finance Officer Lynn McNitt is typically demure in her financial reporting but at the county board’s meeting last Wednesday bordered on the giddy as she told Commissioners Borchers, Hurd, and Levine that state reimbursement checks for the All-Hazard Team repayments will begin to flow as early as this week.A total of $3,925,783 in documented paid All-Hazard Team expenses is owed to the county by the state. In financial terms, McNitt explained to commissioners that the total amount owed to the county is separated into five separate categories based on review and approval for repayment through the state’s Division of Fire Protection & Control.As of Wednesday last week and expected in hand on Monday this week, McNitt says $837,665.25 has been approved for repayment, “but the state has been working on our invoices and updating the payments.”A second phase of the repayment schedule, as explained by McNitt is the “eligibility checker” in which an additional $2.5-million in owed funding is set to be repaid “within the next few weeks.”Additionally, according to McNitt, and foreseen slightly further down the line, is an additional$235,674 to be paid to the county by the state which is “coded in-process for approval”, and — finally — a further reimbursement payment amounting to$253,037 which is in the state’s payment system but not yet approved.State payment of the reimbursement funds may have an impact on the county’s hoped-for 2025 start of construction on the long-awaited County Operations Center which was reported at length in last week’s WORLD. Reported in last week’s edition of the newspaper was a lengthy discussion on interest rates and repayment schedule if the county seeks interim funding for the $4.3-million operations center which includes $1-million from Hinsdale County.A planned meeting between the commissioners and financial representatives Kutak Rock and Piper Sandler & Co., originally scheduled this Friday has now been moved to a special meeting on Wednesday, April 23.In other agenda items at the county board’s workshop and regular meeting on April 9, commissioners were unanimous as they reluctantly voted to more than double the per-yard transfer station charge for tree limbs and slash.For years the county has utilized a drastically reduced, money-losing per yardage fee for tree debris as a wildfire mitigation incentive for landowners in the county.Without financial assistance from either Town of Lake City or a succession of state fire prevention grants (which were denied), Commissioners will now increase the per-yard transfer station fee from. $6.10 to $12.75 effective May 1.Tree limb and slash disposal at the transfer station — although viewed by the county as a pro-active incentive against wildfire — has become an increasingly costly proposition requiring an annual subsidy from the county. Slash and debris were collected at the transfer station, and the county in turn rented an industrial-grade tub grinder to transform the natural timber into mounds of chips for landscaping and soil stabilization.Even the grinding process proved a challenge, however, with added expense one year when the grinder was inadvertently damaged and required repair. Disposal of the increasing mounds of pulverized wood was also slow, with a suggestion from Road & Bridge Supervisor Don Menzies earlier this year to budget for trucking the chips to the landfill in Gunnison.In 2021, according to Finance Officer Lynn McNitt, total revenue based on the county’s moderate per-yard fee for organic materials amount to $7,066, while expenses for rendering the organic material amounted to $24,688; similar discrepancies between revenues and outgo for tree debris was noted in 2022, income $8,000, expense $24,315; 2023, revenue $9,469, outgo $38,834 with grinder repair; and 2024, income $11,342.85 and expense $23,350.58.The move to immediately increase fees on organic material came with regret, Commissioner Hurd expressing his view “we can no longer subsidize the program to this extent; we must cover ourselves,” and Commissioner Levine concurring, “we’ve got to cover ourselves.”During open discussion last Wednesday, Commissioner Hurd said he has spoken with local Colorado Parks & Wildlife wolf reintroduction expert Max Morton with confirmation that a traveling wolf with radio collar has been confirmed 10 miles south of Blue Mesa Reservor. The solo animal is apparently a “great traveler,” according to Hurd, since this same animal has also reported in such diverse areas of the state as Eisenhower Tunnel at I-170, the Grand Junction area, and Salida.Possible modifications to the county’s yet-to-be passed amended OHV Ordinance will be on the Commissioners’ meeting agenda Wednesday, April The ordinance calls for hours of OHV use to be limited to between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Both Commissioners Hurd and Levine are now expressing concern over the hours of operation, Hurd saying he would be in favor of an extended time “cut out” for hunters using OHVs in the fall and Levine noting he is receiving phone calls from concerned constituents. Levine stated “we might want to yank the time limit entirely,” Commissioner Borchers countering that she,

Read More »

OHVs, Liquor License, EMS Fee Increase at Lengthy County Meeting

During open discussion and a two-hour workshop, followed by half-hour meeting last Wednesday, April 2, Hinsdale Commissioners covered a myriad of topics including formally increasing safety-related OHV infractions to $300, requisite spark arrestors and reflects Town of Lake City’s lead in mandating hours of OHV operation on public roads in unincorporated areas of the county from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. effective May 5, 2025.Simmering dissension also marked the board’s workshop discussion on wording and timing for a county OHV ballot initiative, and prior to the three-member board’s unanimous approval concerns which were expressed during normally routine renewal of a Wade’s Addition liquor license.Topping the April 2 meeting agenda was formal approval appointing Lori Hanko as successor to recently resigned Hinsdale County Treasurer & Public Trustee Lori Lawrence. Hanko, who was Deputy Treasurer, was recommended in Lawrence’s March 17 resignation letter.During the workshop portion of Wednesday’s meeting, EMS Director Katherine Heidt advised Commissioners on an impending incremental three-year increase in Emergency Medical Service rates, the first since 2015, based on charges for comparable emergency services in neighboring areas.Under the incremental three-year plan starting this year and extending through 2027, the rate for BLS (Basic Life Support) transport increases from $900 to $1,400 in 2025 and then respectively $1,650 and $1,900 in 2026 and 2027. For ALS (Advanced Life Support), $1,200 since 2015, the new rate is $1,700 2025, $1,900 2026, and $2,200 2027.One-way ambulance ground mileage — for instance from Lake City to Gunnison Valley Hospital — increases from $24 currently per mile to $31 per mile 2025, $33/mile 2026, and $35/mile 2027.Modest one-time charges for specific supplies, as explained by Heidt, will see an increase from $45 current to $50 new rate for oxygen supplies; heart monitoring goes from $65 now to $75; ALS IV drug administration, $65 to $75; ALS and BLS routine disposables, $100 to new $150 rate.Heidt emphasized to Commissioners that the new EMS rates are the result of a calculated study last September by a team of EMS professional from throughout Colorado as part of a state-funded consultative visit. The upshot from that study, according to Heidt, was the suggestion for improved financial stability through a review and update of Hinsdale EMS rates.Heidt furnishes the chart reprinted above which illustrates comparable rates being charged by regional agencies (among them Gunnison and Crested Butte) and comparisons between industry standards and Lake City which, based on its remote location, is classified as a “frontier area.”As an incentive “intended to thank the community for its incredible support over the decades, Hinsdale EMS’ proposed rate increase also includes a $200 “Local Discount” for local patients with the 81235 billing address.Heidt said the new 2025-2027 rate structure will be widely publicized on the Hinsdale EMS website and with handouts to patients.Hinsdale Commissioners were receptive to the increased EMS fee structure, Commissioner Hurd noting that the new rates will result in reduced county subsidies to EMS, “the closer we get to a self-supporting program the better,” said Hurd.The county’s 2024 “contractual adjustment” to Hinsdale EMS in 2024, according to Finance Officer Lynn McNitt, amounted to $75,000.Commissioners are scheduled to formally approve the new EMS rate structure at a special meeting on Wednesday, April 23, and new rates will go into effect on May 1.Commissioners’ workshop discussion and subsequent meeting finalized an amended OHV ordinance mirroring Town of Lake City with hours of operation on unincorporated public roads in the county limited to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., county following Federal standards with mandatory spark arresters, and an increase to $300 fine for safety-related citations.The amended county OHV ordinance, published in its entirety elsewhere in this week’s issue, is set for a second reading at the county’s 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, special meeting and, once passed, goes into effect prior to Memorial Day. While discussions between the three commissioners regarding the amended OHV ordinance were in general amicable, differing viewpoints were evident as the OHV topic turned to specific wording and timing for a planned ballot…… Continue Reading this Lengthy Article! Subscribe to the Lake City Silver World and receive the weekly issue in your inbox or mail!

Read More »

Town Passes OHV Ordinance for Hours of Operation, Spark Arrestors, Fines

Town of Lake City Board of Trustees and Mayor Dave Roberts met with Sheriff Denim Starnes and Deputy Jim Hunsicker during the March 19 regular workshop and meeting to discuss Town OHV regulations and the OHV year-end report. The annual report is generated through input collected from Hinsdale County Finance Director Lynn McNitt, Mayor Roberts, Sheriff Starnes, Captain James Saunders with Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Traffic and Safety Program Manager Zane Znamenacek and CDOT Regional Operator RE Hall.The report, which is required by CDOT’s Special Use Permit, is submitted at the end of each season to communicate concerns or issues that occurred.The report states: Following the end of the 2024 summer season, concerns were communicated to the County and Town that the new start date had adversely affected local business. The County Commissioners and Town Trustees discussed changing the start date for 2025, which would require a new request for an updated Special Use Permit from CDOT. Eventually it was determined to wait until the end of the current 2024-2025 permit. Both the Town and County boards will meet to discuss the possibility of requesting a new permit to continue the OHV Highway program in 2026 and beyond.Other than a few exceptions, each contributing participant named above had relatively the same sentiments to relate, summed up by Saunders as, “Everything else was usual. Nothing to report. That’s good news.”Sheriff Starnes stated that along with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer Lucas Martin, reporting approximately 150 total contacts were made with OHV drivers on Highway 149. Of those 150 contacts, approximately seven percent resulted in citations.At the March 19 meeting, Mayor Roberts reiterated that in the end of year report, he had “nothing new to add following the 2024 season.” His biggest complaint, within the report, he said, was that the program timeline was shortened and that “a lot of businesses didn’t like that. A lot of people in town would like to see the program go back to the original start date (Memorial Day).”Trustee Bruce said, “So we haven’t had any incidents. Again.” Bruce referenced the data that Lucas Martin contributed to the report, saying, “so when he says 150 total contacts, with seven percent being issued citations – I would be curious to know what the contacts were for. Moving violations, equipment issue – or whatever – I think that could help us.”Mayor Roberts said, “as we all know, we have been working with the town in regards to the OHV program, to make it as palatable as we can for the town citizenry. The Commissioners discussed it this morning, we’ve discussed it a couple of times, we were working on that ordinance to see what we can do, and the three major factors that came up: the amount of the fines; the county wants to raise the helmet fine to $300 for 18 and under. Then, mufflers and spark arrestors – so, noise, and hours of operation.”Bruce said, “they (Hinsdale County) were going to follow us on the hours of operation and we were going to follow them on the fines.”Roberts, speaking to Starnes, said, “I requested that the Sheriff be here because he’s part of this and as we do what we do, I’m interested in your feedback.” Starnes replied, “happy to give it. What are the proposed hours of operation?”Roberts replied, “we’ve been discussing 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.”“What if someone comes off the loop at midnight, or if they have a flat tire?” asked Starnes.Trustee Bruce said, “well, you have discretion, and that would be an exception.”Town Manager Lex Mulhall stated that the other timeframe being considered was 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., and Starnes replied that he felt those times would be more reasonable.Trustee Bruce said she had spoken with some homeowners who lived along the highway, who were not necessarily in favor of OHVs, proposing a 6 a.m. start time until a 10 p.m. end time, and she reported that this idea was favorable, as it gives the noise an eight-hour break. Mayor Roberts agreed, saying, “[we know] not everyone is going to comply. What we’re doing is asking the citizens what they prefer, then we can publish that for all the visitors and guests, saying this is what the town wants. But also, let me back up a step – the newspaper kind of put me out of context – in one of our meetings, I made a comment and I was talking about the stereos [not mufflers, as reported] and how I heard them coming down Crooke’s Hill, and as I read our existing ordinance, that’s in there already. I don’t see you guys [Sheriff’s Office] chasing down every loud stereo.”Starnes interjected to say, “I’ve chased down a few.”Further, Starnes said he would like to share an example from last summer,..(continued) Missing the Whole Story? Click the button below to subscribe! You can receive the weekly publication of The Lake City Silver World to your inbox or front door!

Read More »

Fascinating Statistics from OHV Survey Reveal Insights into Evolving Opinions

Hinsdale County’s avidly perused OHV survey, which was conducted for the county’s property andbusiness owners for two weeks extending from late November to early December last year revealsfascinating insights into a variety of OHV topics specifically and the county’s recreational outlook ingeneral.As previously reported, the survey was conducted by Rev. Jason Santos at the request of HinsdaleCounty Commissioners Hurd, Levine, and Borchers in order to gauge citizen and business sentiment onOff Highway Vehicle use in the county and to assist in determining whether the county’s special usepermit with Colorado Department of Transportation allowing seasonal use of a portion of State Highway149 to connect both ends of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway should be renewed.As reported in last week’s WORLD, Commissioners have unanimously voted to continue the special usepermit program for an additional two years, 2024 and 2025, with a several-week reduction — startingmid June instead of Memorial Day and continuing until the end of September both years — in the timeframe OHVs are allowed on the highway. Based on survey responses, many of thoseresponding feel the OHV route on Highway 149 should be extended as an accommodation tobusinesses outside the current route and to reduce OHV traffic now passing through residentialneighborhoods in Lake City North, Riverside Estates, and San Juan Springs Subdivisions. Rather than itspresent termination on 149 at Mile Marker 70 at Ocean Wave Drive — which has become an entre’point into the above mentioned subdivisions — proponents of the OHV program have strenuouslylobbied for a north extension to vehicle wash facilities at the Toy Wash on the north base ofCemetery Hill and adjacent to both the entry to Hinsdale County Transfer Station and San JuanRanch Estates and San Juan Meadows Subdivision. Concerns on the north route extension are primarily vehicular, with no separate turning lanes at presentfor either the well-traveled transfer station exit or the San Juan Meadows and Ranch Subdivisions.Similarly, advocates of the OHV program have also suggested a south extension of the route from LakeSan Cristobal’s County Road 30 to Woodlake RV Park as a convenience for OHV enthusiasts at thepopular business The south extension would pass several private residential driveways, as well as thegated entrance to Weems Malter Placer Subdivision, before crossing the two-lane Dawn of Hope Bridgeacross the Lake Fork River and then accessing Woodlake Park at the base of Slumgullion Pass.Similar to the north extension proposals, concerns of private landowners have been cited if a southextension of the OHV route is considered.Hinsdale Commissioners are planning a countywide ballot question on OHV use in the county —specifics yet to be worked out —on the November, 2025, ballot, and at Wednesday morning’s workshopthis week, a discussion topic included whether results from the online survey might be furtherdelineated to separate responses which were received from property owners and registered voters.At Hinsdale Commissioners’ first-of-year January 3 meeting, Jason Santos explained specifics of therecently concluded online OHV survey, details to follow, Santos noting his contention the survey was“representative” but “not entirely representative.” As reported last week, 876 online responses werereceived for the survey which were reduced to a total of 770 after 76 ineligible responses and 30 duplicate responses were eliminated.Survey Specifics:GENERAL OUTLOOK: survey respondents were queried on their overall support of the OHVProgram, a 53.6 (379) to 46.84 (334) percent split responding yes, they would favor a renewal if theHighway 149 program as implemented or, no, they are not in favor of the present program; 66.48 (474)stated they are in favor of renewing the program with restrictions, 33.52 percent opposed; 83.52percent (608) stated OHVs should continue to have access to the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway.46.28 (330) percent stated they were in support of the Highway 149 program at its inception in 2019(other responses 25.53 (182) percent in the negative; 95 individuals who stated they didn’t have anopinion and 106 responding they didn’t reside in the county in 2019; for individuals who initiallysupported the program in 2019, 19.50 percent stated their level of support for the program has nowincreased, 24.26 percent cited equal support, and 8.84 percent less support. 99 respondents (13.88 percent) stated no support for the program.SPECIFICS: road conditions and law enforcement were specifically cited in the survey questions, amajority of those responding to the survey (43.83 percent, 316 responses) stating their view that theOHV program has had a significant negative impact on the county’s roads; 19 (2.64 percent) said theprogram has resulted in an improvement to county roads; 119 (16.50 percent), no impacts; 223 (30.93percent) moderate negative impacts. A majority (313 responses, 43.41 percent) responded HinsdaleCounty Road & Bridge Dept. is satisfactorily maintaining county roads (31.11 percent, 282responses not adequately maintaining); asked whether they would favor a tax increase to improvecounty road maintenance, a majority, 48.40 percent (349) said they would not support a tax increase,compared to 34.54 percent (249) responding they would support increased road maintenance taxes.Asked for what types of vehicles were most impacting the county’s unpaved roads, a majority(47.02 percent, 339 responses) stated “all vehicles”; 303 (42.02 percent) blamed OHVs for deterioratedroad conditions, 13.31 percent trucks, 9.57 percent jeeps, 30.10 percent ATVs, and 18.31 percentmotorcycles.A majority in the survey, 298 responses, 41.39 percent, stated they feel Hinsdale County Sheriff’sDept. is not adequately enforcing OHV regulations and ordinances, this compared to 32.08 percent whostate the department is adequately enforcing, and 26.53 percent uncertain. A majority in the survey concerns on the north route extension are primarily vehicular, with no separate turning lanes at presentfor either the well-traveled transfer station exit or the San Juan Meadows and Ranch Subdivisions.Similarly, advocates of the OHV program have also suggested a south extension of the route from LakeSan Cristobal’s County Road 30 to Woodlake RV Park as a convenience for OHV enthusiasts at thepopular business The south extension would pass several private residential driveways, as well as thegated entrance to Weems Malter Placer Subdivision, before crossing the two-lane Dawn of Hope Bridgeacross the Lake Fork River and then accessing Woodlake Park at the base of Slumgullion Pass.Similar to the north extension proposals, concerns of private landowners

Read More »
Verified by MonsterInsights